Chapter Fifteen #3
“And I understand that,” Magnus said. “You have gone above and beyond. But I can make my own decisions, especially where it pertains to Delaina.”
Denys rolled his eyes. “You just met her, Magnus,” he said. “And, suddenly, you cannot live without her?”
“I love her.”
Denys hung his head. “How can you even know that after knowing the woman for a couple of days?” he said. “How is that even possible?”
“I do not know, but it has happened.”
Denys continued to look at the ground, mulling over the situation. He finally snorted. “I will tell you what I told the lady,” he said. “I lost my youngest brother ten years ago.”
“What does Dallan have to do with this?”
As Denys continued, he was close to tears.
“He had the makings of the most magnificent de Winter knight who ever lived,” he said.
“He never had the chance to reach his potential, and there was nothing I could do to help him. I see the same greatness in you—you are well on your way to reaching your potential, yet you are suddenly willing to throw it all away for a woman. Not just any woman, but a courtesan. How is that fair to men like Dallan who never even had half the chances that you have had?”
Magnus was watching him carefully. “Then you are doing this for Dallan?”
Denys shook his head. “I am doing this for you,” he said. “I could not help my brother. But I can help you. Whether or not you want me to.”
There were now tears in his eyes. It was the most heartbreaking thing Magnus had ever heard, and it took most of the fight right out of him—but not all of it. Denys had to understand that in this situation, he had no control, no matter how hard he tried to hold on to it.
Magnus took a few steps, closing the gap between them.
“You are the most devoted friend and brother that anyone could ask for,” he said quietly.
“I understand why you did what you did, and you did indeed save my honor from Hugh’s immoral intentions.
I am touched and honored that you would put yourself in harm’s way in order to save me.
But in this case, you must let me make my own decisions, Denys.
I am not an addle-brained squire, and I was not bewitched.
Sometimes, you meet a woman and you just know she is the one you are meant to be with.
It does not matter that I’ve known her two days or two years.
Mayhap I have achieved much in my life. Mayhap I am meant to achieve more.
But I would surrender it all for a few brief moments with a woman who touches my soul like no one else ever has.
If you have ever been in love, you would understand that. ”
Denys was listening with sorrow. Part of him could understand, but part of him didn’t want to understand. “I have never loved a woman,” he said honestly. “Therefore, I cannot attest to the willingness to relinquish everything I have worked for.”
Magnus smiled faintly. “You will,” he said.
“I have every confidence that someday, you will meet a woman who shines upon you like nothing you have ever experienced before. But I have met the one who shines upon me, and I cannot go another moment without feeling the warmth of her smile. Will you please show me where she went?”
Denys had no choice. He knew that. They had come to the end of their conversation, and there was nothing more to say. Nothing more to do. With an unhappy grunt, he hung his head again.
“I am so angry with her,” he finally said. “I am angry that she did this to you. I am angry that she has ruined your life.”
Magnus’ smile never left his lips. “She has not ruined my life,” he said. “She has shown me a glimpse of a future I never thought I would have. Life does not end here at Westminster, Denys. It goes on to bigger and better things.”
Denys lifted his head and looked at him.
“I said some terrible things to her,” he admitted.
“I told her that she was ruining everything you had worked for. I chased her into the cloister, Magnus, and I am sorry for that. But I knew of no other way to save you from getting yourself killed when you confronted Hugh.”
Magnus’ smile faded. “I understand that,” he said. “But I am going to talk to her and convince her that marriage to me is better than the cloister. At least, I hope it is.”
Denys knew there was no discouraging him, and, in truth, he knew it wasn’t his right. Magnus had made himself clear, and if there was any hope of salvaging the friendship, Denys had to let Magnus do what he wanted to do.
Even if that involved marrying a courtesan.
He gave up the fight.
“She went in through the entrance to the cloister,” he finally said. “They cannot keep her there, you know. They will have to send her to St. Blitha’s, where the nuns of that order reside.”
Magnus was well aware that Westminster was only for monks. St. Blitha’s, the largest convent in London, was where the women were housed.
“Then I shall talk her out of committing herself,” he said. “Show me where you last saw her.”
Knowing he had no choice, Denys did.